Pacific Marine Credit Union launches "Operation Interdependence"

OCEANSIDE, Calif. - The nation's military has been in America's heart since 9/11 as it has been called on to flex its muscles in the war on terrorism. Pacific Marine Credit Union, formerly Marine Corps West Federal Credit Union, has joined forces with the Tri-City Council of the Navy League of the United States (NLUS) to support troops with care packages from home. With the delivery of packages to the military deployed in foreign countries halted due to security concerns, a program, called Operation Interdependence sanctioned by Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, is a "Civilian-to-Military Delivery System", which allows civilians to send care packages to troops while they are deployed outside the United States. Pacific Marine CU as a founding participant claims to be the only credit union in the country currently involved in the program. Shipments contain items the troops may be missing while away from home. Each box contains items individually packaged in ziploc bags for easy distribution and use by a Marine or Sailor once the contents have been consumed in order to preserve and protect ID cards, pictures and other keepsakes. Unlike other donor programs, the Tri-City Council sets up a meeting between the troops to be supported and the sponsor prior to deployment. Once the troops return to the States, the council will sponsor a celebration and recognize the unit's top performers. Stan Hillery, a retired Marine Sergeant Major and Pacific Marine CU membership development representative serves as the O.I. Coordinator. For more information regarding Operation Interdependence visit www.navyleague.net.